Should any of the Atlanta United players currently playing with their national teams not be able to play in Friday’s game against Seattle, manager Gerardo Martino has several options to fill the voids.
Striker Josef Martinez (Venezuela), attacking midfielder Miguel Almiron (Paraguay), striker Kenwyne Jones (Trinidad and Tobago) and holding midfielder Carlos Carmona (Chile) have been with their national teams participating in World Cup qualifying games. Other than Jones, all are starters for Atlanta United. Jones has subbed in for Martinez.
Martinez sustained an injury to his right leg during Venezuela’s game last week. A diagnosis and prognosis following an MRI are expected on Tuesday.
The easiest solution for Martino? That all three starters to be able to play.
However, Martinez’s injury makes that unlikely. Almiron will be flying from South America to Seattle. He played all 90 minutes in last week’s 2-1 win over Ecuador. If he again plays all 90 in Tuesday’s game against Brazil, it seems a stretch for him to play a third game in eight days. Jones played 84 minutes in last week’s 1-0 win over Panama. Trinidad and Tobago will host Mexico on Tuesday.
Carmona didn’t play in Chile’s 1-0 loss to Argentina last week. Chile will host Venezuela on Tuesday.
Seattle, last year’s MLS Cup champion, may be dealing with the same issue. Several of its key players (Clint Dempsey, Jordan Morris, Nicolas Lodeiro, Roman Torres and Joevin Jones) were also called up by their national teams and may not be available. Morris (ankle injury) and Lodeiro didn’t play in their team’s first games. After his injury, Morris left the U.S. camp to return to Seattle. The U.S. will play at Panama on Tuesday. Uruguay, with Lodeiro, will play at Peru on Tuesday.
If none of those Atlanta United’s players are available on Friday, Martino’s easiest solution would be like-for-like swaps. Brandon Vazquez would play in the role normally occupied by Martinez or Jones. Vazquez faced Seattle while on loan with Charleston in the preseason and said he learned to keep things simple.
“I have kept that in mind. I’ve been working hard,” Vazquez said about the possibility of starting. “Though I haven’t been in the past rosters, I’ve been working hard and I’m ready. I’m excited.”
Jeff Larentowicz, who has one start this season, would slide into the holding midfielder role in place of Carmona. Starter Julian Gressel, a three-game-starter in midfield, could move into Almiron’s playmaking role, with Chris McCann starting alongside Gressel.
Martino could opt to play the game without a forward. The formation, often referred to as a “false nine,” features six midfielders, any of whom could run into the space normally used by the forward. Martino used that formation a few times as manager at Barcelona.
A clue for Martino’s preference may have been revealed during the Carolina Challenge Cup in the preseason. Facing Charleston, Martino shifted Yamil Asad, who normally starts as a left-sided midfielder, to striker. Asad scored a goal on a header in that game. If Martino makes that move, Jacob Peterson could start on the left, with the Gressel/McCann/Larentowicz or Carmona combination in the middle.
“Every guy prepares like they are going to play,” said Peterson, who has one goal this season. “I wouldn’t want anybody on the team to prepare each week differently than that.”
Asad he is comfortable on the left, where he has formed a good partnership with Greg Garza, but can play as the striker if needed.
“It’s a position that if I have to do it, I can do it without problems,” Asad said. “It’s not new to me. If it’s something I have to do again, I feel comfortable.”
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